![\"Key](\"https:\/\/blog.rwth-aachen.de\/forschungsdaten\/files\/2026\/09\/Nachbericht_Netzwerktreffen_Laborbesuch-Anorganische-Chemie_EN.jpg\")
<\/a>Source: Own illustration<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n
What does research data management look like where research data are actually generated? On August 20, 2026, the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry<\/a> opened its laboratories to the RDM Network<\/a> and provided insights into research data management in practice. The focus was on Electronic Lab Notebooks (so called ELNs), and how they can be integrated into workflows in chemical research.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Following an introduction to the institute and its research areas, Prof. Dr. Sonja Herres-Pawlis presented the research data management activities of her research group. RDM is integrated into various areas of the group\u2019s work and, in addition to the use of the Chemotion ELN<\/a>, includes repositories, server infrastructure, data management plans and guidelines. The group is also involved in numerous activities in teaching as well as in the RDM community and NFDI4Chem.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n After the introduction, the participants headed straight to the laboratories. Divided into three groups, they visited three different laboratory areas and gained insights into different working environments at the institute. In a typical chemistry lab, they were introduced to laboratory workspaces and experimental setups. Another laboratory provided insights into the use of NMR spectrometers. In the third laboratory, the focus was on connecting analytical instruments to Chemotion and on how research data generated during laboratory work can be transferred directly into digital documentation. The lab tours were led by Dr. Henrika H\u00fcppe, Dr. Christian Conrads and Dr. Jochen Ortmeyer.<\/p>\n The tour demonstrated in particular how closely digital documentation can be integrated with practical laboratory work. Some instruments are directly connected to Chemotion. This means that research data no longer have to be transferred manually from the respective instrument into the documentation but can be transferred to the ELN via the existing interface. One specific example was the IR spectrometer presented during the visit: the data generated by the instrument is first transferred to a server and then automatically made available in the Chemotion Inbox. From there, they can be incorporated into the subsequent documentation.<\/p>\n This allowed the participants not only to learn about the subsequent use of an ELN but also to understand the conditions under which the data to be documented are generated in the laboratory. The connection between laboratory instruments, data infrastructure and the ELN illustrated how research data management can be integrated directly into experimental workflows.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n\t\tResearch Data Management Directly in the Lab<\/span><\/h3>\n